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Arizona State University Hosts Gridiron Bash this Spring

Arizona State University and New York City-based MSL Sports and Entertainment today announced that the university will host Gridiron BashTM The Ultimate Fan CompetitionTM the day before the Spring Game. The event -- the first of its kind at Sun Devil Stadium -- will take place during the afternoon and evening of April 18 and include a live performance by 3 Doors Down, as well as a giant pep rally featuring the ASU Marching Band, Cheerleaders, Sparky,, a retrospective of the past season and a recap of spring football and a 2008 season preview. Tickets go on sale Friday March 7th at the Arizona State University box office and online at www.thesundevils.com.

After selling 12 million albums since their debut in 2000, 3 Doors Down is considered one of the top bands in the US today. No stranger to hit singles, 3 Doors Down have had six #1 singles - 'Kryptonite,' 'Duck & Run,' 'Loser,' 'Be Like That,' 'When I'm Gone' and 'Here Without You,' making them one of the most popular and consistently successful rock bands in recent history. According to Billboard Magazine, they were the first debut act to ever have had a #1 single at four different radio formats simultaneously with 'Kryptonite' and the quintet went on to win the 2003 Billboard Music Awards for 'Best Pop/Rock Group' and 'Best Hot 100 Single,' as well as earning the distinction of seeing 'When I'm Gone' become the most played song in 2003 according to the Nielson Vegas for Artist of the Year: Modern AC Radio. In the past four years, 3 Doors Down have moved from accomplishment to accomplishment, clearly establishing themselves as an exceptional band, both in the studio and on stage.

'Similar to the excitement surrounding Midnight Madness, there's also excitement around football in the spring, when schools hold practices and Spring Games to showcase the following year's roster,' says Steve Hank, Asst. Athletic Director at Arizona State University, which is one of about 20 Division I universities nationwide selected by MSL (the event's creator and producer) to serve as a Gridiron Bash host site. 'Thousands of spectators come out each spring to watch our football scrimmages, but that's typically where the `fan experience' ends. Gridiron Bash extends the experience and enables fans to support their team, give back to their university and have a great time doing so.'

At the core of Gridiron BashTM is a fan contest --The USA TODAY Bash for Cash SeriesTM -- that will establish which of the participating schools has the most passionate and supportive fans. The USA TODAY Bash for Cash SeriesTM winners will be determined by adding up the total attendance at the Gridiron BashTM event and combining that with the number of fans who text/call in to vote for their school. MSL projects total attendance to be about 1 million.

The USA TODAY Bash for Cash SeriesTM winning university will receive a $1 million contribution to their General Scholarship fund, with 2nd and 3rd place schools receiving $500,000 and $250,000 respectively. Presentation of the winning schools will be aired live in conjunction with a soon-to-be-announced national television partner.

'We're thrilled to bring Gridiron Bash to Arizona State University. The event will set a new tradition around spring football and feed the appetite of fans looking to be involved with the program beyond the season,' says Shawn Garrity, president of MSL Sports and Entertainment and a former linebacker at Syracuse. 'Gridiron Bash truly is the ultimate fan competition. It offers fans the ideal opportunity to give back to the universities.'

Manhattan-based MSL (www.mslsportsent.com) builds and develops cutting-edge entertainment properties with the purpose of connecting consumers, brands and media. In addition to rolling out trend-setting new properties -- such as the Gridiron BashTM at Division I schools and the East Meets West All-American Game -- MSL's core services include branding, TV production (with assets including, Inside the Big East, numerous Division I Coaches Shows and other television properties), sponsorship sales, public relations, celebrity procurement and every aspect of event management. MSL also runs a nationally recognized scouting and recruiting service that works with universities, athletes and media organizations.